30 September,2009 07:20 AM IST | | Varun Singh
Prez Pratibha Patil's son Rajendra Shekhawat speaks to Varun Singh on his campaign, the criticism and his mother
Being the son of the first citizen of the country does pay. Rajendra Shekhawat, son of President Pratibha Patil, who had asked for a ticket in the 2004 Assembly polls from Amravati and been denied, is today busy campaigning for the same seat.
After making the reporter listen to Jai Ho (his caller tune) nearly a dozen times, the Congress candidate finally took a break from campaigning for a tete-a-tete.
What made you contest this election?
I had asked for a ticket in 2004 too, but I didn't get it then.
There are allegations that you got the ticket this time because of your mother. Comment. Super Mom: President Pratibha Patil has also been dragged into the controversy surrounding her son's candidature.
Absolutely not. I have been in politics for over a decade. People know my work. I was with the Seva Dal and now play an important role in the Amravati district Congress. I did not use my mother's clout. In fact, there were more than 10,000 supporters when I went to file my nomination. This clearly indicates the kind of base I have here.
What was the first thing you did after your candidature was declared?
I called my mother. She blessed me and asked me to go ahead.
Will you ask your mother to campaign for you?
I am a grown man now. At the age of 42, I don't need my parents to campaign for me.
This is a new beginning in your political career. Don't you feel the need for her support?
Her blessings are always with me; she is always with me irrespective of whether she is physically around or not.
What do you see as the root cause of the controversy related to your candidature?
I asked for a ticket from Amravati, which had a sitting MLA from Congress (Sunil Deshmukh). He adopted the rebellious attitude only because the seat was given to me. My father was a sitting MLA from here, but when he was not given a ticket he didn't rebel. He continued working for the party. We have been in politics for nearly four decades and, more importantly, Amravati is my hometown. These are the reasons why I demanded for a ticket from here.
What are the issues that you have taken up?
Unemployment is the biggest issue in the district. Health problems and the growing slums on the outskirts of the city are the other major concerns. My main agenda is to get industries here so that the youth gets work.
Does it mean that the last Congress MLA did nothing to solve all this?
I don't want to comment on it.
How are you campaigning?
I am doing padyatras, rallies, corner meetings and door-to-door campaigning. The response seems favourable for the party.
Who do you think will vote for you?
The youth is coming out in huge numbers for my campaign. They are participating in the rallies and I think they will form a major vote bank for me.
Box: Who's your daddy?
In its third list of candidates for the state polls, the Congress also named Amit Deshmukh (son of Vilasrao Deshmukh) for the Latur city seat and Praniti Shinde (Sushilkumar Shinde's daughter) for Solapur City Central constituencies.
